Upon your arrival, a representative from Mountain Sherpa Foundations or Mountain Sherpa Trekking will be waiting outside the airport gates to take you to the hotel. Depending on the time of arrival, plans will be made for a briefing meeting once you have check-in your rook. Please let us know if there is anything special you would like to do while in Kathmandu and we can help you arrange that.

After breakfast, you’ll be guided to the well-known Buddhist Swayambunath Temple in Kathmandu. This temple draws Buddhists and tourists from around the world. The view of Kathmandu valley from the top of the temple is stunning. The group will then enjoy a local lunch at a typical Nepali restaurant. The time after lunch is allocated for purchasing items for your time in the village. In the evening you will enjoy a traditional Nepali dinner and be briefed on the following day’s plans, after which you will have the opportunity to discuss any concerns. [Breakfast, lunch & evening meal included]

Today, you'll be picked up in a private 4x4 and moved to Dhap. The 7-hour journey starts early in the morning as you leave the hustle-bustle of the city, via Okhaldungha, and drive along the Sun Koshi River. You'll later join the roaring big Koshi River until you reach Ghurmi, where you'll stop for lunch. The drive then continues uphill as you head north through subtropical forests of pine and dense rhododendrons, passing several beautiful villages, attractive landscapes, and valleys until getting Dhap Bazaar. Take the afternoon and evening to discover this captivating village with several local shops and get to know villagers and their way of life. If the skies are clear, keep an eye out for breathtaking mountain views of Numbur Chuli, reminding you that you're getting closer to the Himalayas. Accommodation: Teahouse

This morning after breakfast, you'll start your trek by walking along a dusty road until you reach the village of Sigane. The trail then follows a road under construction for the first couple of hours until you reach the tiny village of Jhapre, perched above a deep valley with nice views of Everest and Himal. There is a beautiful little Buddhist gompa and stupa here to check out and another nice viewpoint just north of the village. Or you can simply wander around Jhapre's streets with a few teahouses, cafés, and shops.

Trekking time: 4-5 hours Accommodation: Teahouse

Today, you'll get an early morning start with views of Numbur Chuli, Everest, and the eastern Himalayan range. The path starts on a dirt road for a while and then quickly turns into a moderate uphill ascent across pine and rhododendron jungles until you get Bhulbule. You can take a rest at the local teashop there, and then continue on a moderate uphill hike, arriving in Lhamuje for lunch.

During the spring season (Mid-March to Mid-May), one will be able to see varied species of rhododendron flowers during the walk, along with outstanding views of the Himalaya. Afterward, the path begins a series of gentle ups and downs along the ridge, which finally arrives at a pasture where you can see grazing yaks. You'll pass a Mani wall and then will hike a steep uphill zigzag trail to Pikey Peak Base Camp, where you can reward yourself with a visit to the local yak cheese factory. Pikey Base Camp located at an altitude of 3600 m above sea level can be reached after the journey of 5-6 hours hike from Jiprey.

We get up early in the morning with warm clothes and ascent up Pikey Peak (4,070m.). It is about one -hour hiking to reach Pikey Peak. If the weather is clear, you will see the best sunrise and splendid view of the Himalayas like Dhaulagiri, Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam,Makalu, Kanchenjunga, Numbur, Gaurisankhar, and Langtang to the west.

The trek then heads downhill for a few hours and enters a rhododendron and pine jungle till Jase Bhanjyang. A trail gradually climbs to the north from a hill ridge, allowing us to view both valleys and magnificent mountain sceneries. The vegetation is thinner with juniper bushes. We finally traverse a short cliffy section and arrive at a beautiful meadow at Pambuk La, another pass 4,000m.

After going down one and a half hours through a pine and rhododendron forest, one arrives in Taktur, a Sherpa village. Another 1 hour or so later and you are in the beautiful village of Junbesi. It is one of the ancient Sherpa ancestral villages with an old monastery in the village center.

Trekking time: 5-6 hours   Overnight: Junebesi (8,792 feet / 2,680 m) 

Accommodation: Teahouse

This morning we visit the monastery of Junbeshi, one of the oldest monasteries of the entire region. And also visit the Thubten Chöling monastery, founded by Trulshi Rinpoche.

Trulshik Rinpoche is one of the senior-most masters of the Tibetan Buddhism tradition and the head of the Nyingma schools, and one of the teachers of His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama. Trulshik Rinpoche was also the holder of the Great Perfection (Dzogchen) and the rare teachings he regularly transmits to the Dalai Lama. Trulshik Rinpoche was born in 1924 in Yardrok Taklung in central Tibet. At a very young age, he gets recognized as the reincarnation of the great tertön Do-ngak Lingpa and regarded as the emanation of other prominent masters of Tibet and India.

Overnight: Junbesi (8,793 feet / 2,680 m) Accommodation: Lodge

After the morning breakfast, trek for 3 hours to reach Chiwong monastery. Chiwong monastery is located at a height of 9,000 feet on the cliff of Chiwong hill about 3 hours walking distance from Phaplu airport also, Solu Khumbu district, At one time Chiwong Monastery echoed with the prayers and scholastic activities of many monks and nuns who resided here. Chiwong Monastery has the privilege to host the Dza-Rong-Phuk Sangey Ngawang Tenzing Jangpo from 1955-1958. His Holiness Thrulshig Rinpoche has lived in this monastery from 1960-1967. Chiwong monastery Celebrates Mani Rimdu festival full moon of October every year. The Mani Rimdu Festival is a colorful occasion that takes place in the most spectacular of settings in the foothills of the Himalayas. Performed by the monks of Chiwong monasteries, it depicts the victory of Buddhism over the ancient ‘Bon’ religion.

We stop at the monastery for lunch, visit the monastery and its monastic school and then descend to Phaplu, another 40-minutes walk. We make a short walk to Phaplu, a 1-hour walk down. The path descends through a carved zigzag path through the cliffside and drops to the river below the Chiwang monastery, where we meet the main route that follows Ringmo. The trail forks left to Phaplu and through villages until we reach Phaplu airstrip. The Phaplu/Salleri is the headquarters of Solukhumbu district with a hospital (built by Sir Edmund Hillary), airfield and a motorable road that connects directly to Kathmandu, which is 10 hours drive.

Phaplu is located at a height of 2400m. There is an airport, hospital and nursery. There are 8/10 hotels for tourists. It is also possible to explore around Salleri Bazer, which is headquarters of Solukhumbu district. Junbesi to Phaplu takes 5/6 hours hiking and then overnight at lodge.

Overnight: Phaplu   Accommodation: Lodge

We have our warm breakfast at Phaplu amidst the sweet chirping of birds and then hike up to Ratnage danda via the tiny Sherpa town of Garikhasa; this takes about 2-3 hrs to reach Ratnage from Phaplu. We hike through shady forests and pine trees during our trek. From Ratnage hill, we get great views of the Himalayas and this includes Mt.Everest, Mera peak, Thamserku, Numbur himal and the views of Sherpa villages, green hills, and cultivated land areas. From Ratnage to Mera village the walking downwards takes approx. 2 hrs. Mera is a small Sherpa village with 45 houses; these are typical Sherpa villages that are mostly isolated from the main trails of the Khumbu. Mera village is an attractive place with the Ogen choling Monastery nearby. This village is also known as "Chyangmiteng" in the Sherpa language and is a name related to the Buddhist religion. This village is a symbol of Sherpa culture and homestays are also available down here. Some trekkers like to spend more time here to enjoy the quietness of the monastery and study the unique Sherpa culture.

Overnight: Mera Village   Accommodation: Monastery / Sherpa Homestay

Our 3 days Volunteer Planned is about Teaching in a small primary school or Monastery in our tiny village. Mera village is an isolated small Sherpa village located in the lower part of the Everest region. The village has located at an altitude of 2400 meters with 40 households. You will be teaching students up to grades 1-4 aged between 5 years to 10. This is a unique program due to some factors like you are spending your time with children in a remote part of Nepal, which is more isolated and marginalized rather than in city areas.  Volunteers are spending their time with government schools and not private schools.

On this trip, you will experience the best trekking journey that is close to one of the world's tallest mountains Mt Everest and you can learn more about the Sherpa culture involving 3 days of volunteering service during this trip. The village is home to Sherpa Peoples, which are often respected for their hospitality and the world's best mountaineers. Working alongside the locals, teachers, and students will provide a rare insight into the people of Nepal and the incredible Sherpa people. We will stay in a local Sherpa home or Monastery. All meals will be prepared and cooked in a local homestay or Monastery.

Overnight: Mera  Accommodation: Sherpa Homestay/ Monastry

Free time:

In their free time, volunteers can go to gather firewood for the family they stay with in the nearby jungle. Help them on their farm or you can explore around the village to see the daily life of local people.

After breakfast, head out on the last day of the trek as you make your way to Phaplu — a scenic little village with a few shops, cafés, and restaurants. A number of different treks end in Phaplu, as this is where trekkers catch their flight back to Kathmandu.

Early morning we once again board our flight through the Himalayan mountain range back to Kathmandu. On arrival, we are transferred to our hotel. The remainder of the day is free. rest of the day you can rest at the hotel or you can explore around Thamel and local markets.

Optional: you can drive to Kathmandu from Phaplu

There are plenty of interesting sites to visit in the Kathmandu valley like the Old Palaces at Patan, Bhaktapur, Durbar square, Swayambhunath (the monkey temple or you may wonder down town Thamel to shop for souvenirs and sample the various restaurants of Kathmandu. This day also acts as a buffer day in case our flight to or from Phaplu is canceled due to weather or any other reasons. 

After b/fast, our rep and office vehicle will be on standby at our hotel to transfer us to the airport for our connecting flight home. Serving you was a wonderful joy and pleasure, we at the Mountain Sherpa foundation team will cherish the bonds of our relationship created over the time you spent with us and we thank you for choosing us as your travel partner and for visiting this amazing country Nepal. We are sure that trekking in this beautiful region of the Khumbu [Everest region] will give you lifetime memories of a vacation well enjoyed. Ciao friends! Till we meet again. Breakfast